Buya, Eritrea
Archaeologists have uncovered large quantities of animal fossils and lithic tools in the area.
[10] Buya was excavated from 1995 to 1997 by a team of Eritrean and Italian paleontologists from the National Museum of Eritrea, and the University of Florence.
[12] One of the paleontologists, Lorenzo Rook,[13] unearthed fragments of the Homo erectus fossil Madam Buya.
[14][15] The fossil was found inside of ancient lake sediments located within the Danakil Depression.
[17] The root canals show occlusal wear, dentine accumulation, and loss of enamel.
[19] It has a more pronounced bossing, large and deeper orbits, larger zygomatic bones with maxilla, a slightly more curved frontal profile, and a thinner endocranium than other archaic human fossils.
[21] Two fossils of permanent teeth with dental crowns and roots, as well as a hip bone fragment, were uncovered in 1995.
For these reasons, the discovery is considered an important source of information about the development of modern humans.
[31][32] Massimo Delfino, one of the paleontologists, found the artifact while conducting a routine survey of the area.
According to Medin, this discovery provided a vital source of information about human development during this time period and an opportunity for further research in Eritrea.
According to a 2004 study of the site, they found 133 flakes, 26 choppers, 13 hand-axes, 9 hammerstones, 6 cores, 2 hammers, and 1 trihedral pick.
98 flakes, 15 choppers, 8 hammerstones, 4 cores, one hand-axe, one pitted pebble, and one trihedral pick were all found in area one.
[2] The type of animals found at this site are typical for East African Early Pleistocene faunas.
Remains of extinct species from this time period found at the site include the Theropithecus oswaldi,[47] Pelorovis oldowayensis, Giraffa jumae, Hexaprotodon, Hippopotamus gorgops,[48] Palaeoloxodon recki,[49] Palaeoloxodon recki ileretensis, Kolpochoerus olduvaiensis, Kolpochoerus majus, Metridiochoerus modestus, and potentially the Giraffa pygmaea.
[51] Other remnants of extant animals such as the White rhinoceros,[52] goat, Grévy's zebra, Sitatunga, waterbuck, Cane rat, Kori bustard, Old World monkey, Spotted hyena, and an unspecified Gazella species have been identified.
[12] Most of the mammals found at Buya are water-dependent species that inhabit grassland or savanna environments.
For example, taxa found at Buya such as the hippopotamus, waterbuck, sitatunga, crocodile,[53] African rock python, Nile monitor lizard, and pelomedusidae are all creatures that rely on water and live in grassland or savanna environments.
This indicates that the region consisted of moist grassland or savanna habitats situated near water.
[56] Cutmarks in fossilized bones and flesh indicate that a Pleistocene human population may have practiced the butchering of animal carcasses.
Another waterbuck fossil shows oblique, short, and straight scratch marks likely also made by a lithic tool, to skin the animal.
[58] The archaeological site is located within the Dandiero basin, which is the northern part of the Danakil depression.
[59] The excavated site was 500 meters thick and is southeast of Buya by the Alad wells and the Alid volcano.
[9] It is covered in grey and white silts and contains river areas with small numbers of marls.
